A U.S. Marine shot and killed a uniformed Afghan police officer after a dispute Saturday, NATO said, prompting an investigation by the alliance's International Security Assistance Force.

According to initial reporting, the police officer and the Marine had an argument while conducting security operations Saturday at a patrol base in Helmand province, in the southern part of the country, ISAF said in a statement.

"After the dispute, the uniformed police officer was reportedly making threatening statements and handling his weapon carelessly," ISAF said.

The Marine reported the behavior to his chain of command, the statement said.

"After departing his post, the uniformed police member returned with his weapon raised and pointed toward the Marine," the statement said. "The Marine responded with escalation of force procedures, including shouting at the individual to put the weapon down."

"The individual failed to comply with the instructions, and the Marine fired two rounds, which resulted in the Afghan Uniformed Police member's death," the statement continued.

The incident occurred in Helmand's Sangin district, ISAF said.

Earlier Saturday, ISAF reported that three civilians and several insurgents were killed in Afghanistan.

soundoff(233 Responses)

RW Stoufus

How badly do the Iraq Police really suck? To have someone in your sights and still they draw down and shoot you twice before you can pull a trigger? No wonder Iraq will never be stablized with U.S Military prescence.

@ ABN At no time did this article stated that the Afgan uniformed officer pointed the gun at the marine head. The marine was justified the use of "Deadly Force". As long as there is an intent, capability and opportunity which the Afgan uniformed officer had the marine was well justified. I am surprised that the Afgan uniformed officer was not taken out by multiple marines at once he pointed the weapon at the marine. Weapons are not to be displayed in ta threating manner in any way shape or form so he was a just ticking awaiting to go off and was gotten first...........But in doing so just might have saved many marine lives.

To One Small Voice
Ever been to Afghanistan? Ever had a gun pointed at you in an unstable tactical situation? Ever get out of your shell and take off those rose colored glasses? 37 US personnel have been killed by their Afghan Police and Border Patrol "allies" in the past two years. Roughly 20% of the police and border patrol recruits that go through training at the police academies rub jointly by US and Afghan instructors are Taliban or Taliban sympathizers. I know because I spent 3 1/2 years there before I was injured trying to train this group. The Afghan government doesn't care to look to close at this problem because they collect bribes from each recruit who comes through the academy. The US Embassy knows this and just accepts it "As the price of doing business".

O"Rourke, smallbrain Seek out a Marine and thank him or her next opportunity you have. 20something % of the ANA go back to work for the Taliban after they are trained. I was there when the UN people were killed at the "safe" house. I was at the camp where the CIA were killed I have watched young soldiers e brought in wounded and with legs missing etc along with soldiers fromr many other countries alongside. Bet youve never been in the service or served anyone but yourself. Sadly you dont know what you're takling about but thank you for your comments its a freedom that they are helping to protect.... for you. Good job Marine thank you for your sacrifice and that of your family.

If some of these individuals only knew the level of corruption which exists within the ANP/ALP. We have had numerous cases of our guards literally walking off post with weapons and leaving to join the Taliban. The level of trust between us and them has not reached a point to where if they pull a gun on you, there is time to think twice on whether or not to defend yourself or coalition forces. Do some research, educate yourself from all points of view and if you have not had first hand experience in dealing with the ANP/ALP then your opinion is only formed from an account of somebody else's.

@ "onesmallvoice" & like kind: Some of you people are so naive...Wake up. "Onesmallvoice" (or onesmallbrain) how dare you even speak the word Marine. You OBVIOUSLY have no clue what is going on in this world around you, and a little bit of knowledge (if you even have that much) is a dangerous thing. YOU are what is wrong with society today. Dont embarrass yourself again by posting, please!

Being a fellow service member and having gone through extensive use of force training, this marine followed every procedure that is taught. And how can you say that every marine wants to kill? Marines are faced with a tough job as they venture farther outside the wire and into more occupied areas than say the army (no disrespect army) and they have to take the fight to the enemy. These men and women who sign up to serve are not gun hungry cold killers, they are everyday people who have more courage and will power than you to take time out of their lives, away from their family and friends to protect people like you who bad mouth them. It's funny, have you ever been to any war zone? Have you seen what our men and women go through? Have you ever taken a bath with baby wipes, as many of our troops do in their deployed locations? Have you ever been shot at or had to shoot at someone? The answers are all probably no, yet you can criticize them on their job and know so much about use of force and rules of engagement. Do some research and stop thinking marine means murderer just because you watched the movie platoon. AND support your troops!! Great job Marine!!

salerno, what do you do for a job these days? the way you say we are cowards seems like you're an operator. if you ask me, i bet you don't have anything to do with the military. just BECAUSE the military big wigs choose to keep the genpop in the dark doesn't mean that the men and women of the armed forces aren't out there on the front lines taking the fight to the enemy. while you sleep in your superman pjs at night dreaming of how you're going to spend you weekend, there are men on the patrols that haven't slept in days thinking that the next breath could be their last. if you lived in our world you would know what that means, but i guess the hardest part of your day is wondering what video game to play. grow up and stop looking for a fight.

you people make me sick, so brain washed into taking sides and labeling everyone who is against America as a terrorist. And you christian fanatics, if it was not for Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus the world probably would have no clue as to who Jesus was. He would have been another nut job in Isreal, Learn the history of your faith. As far as this story goes, perhaps he had to do what he did, but is not the news released always in the right, Wiki leaks (cough cough), if you believe that if there was another side to this story that they would tell you on CNN, come on do not be so easily convinced. Do you not think this Afghan guy would know he would be shot doing what he did. Come on. Who would put themselves in a for sure situation of death over a dispute. Seems fishy if you ask me. Would you come back over an argument and wave a gun at a guy who for sure will kill you? You would have to be insane, or in your simple thinking, a TERRORIST.

As a fellow Marine and combat veteran, What this Devil Dog was the right thing to do. Escalation of Force was taken and it had to come to the his last resort. The topic is not about what are we doing in Afganistan, the main point is the The Marine followed SOP and maintained his disipline. Oh and SALERNO, you think we're cowards? We are not the ones that hit and run and decapitate humans on tape a brag about it world wide. You should think about what you say next time. We patrol for hours to look for these cowards that are afraid to fight face to face.

If you really want to know what is going on over there...join up..stop trying to make things seem what they aren't. It cant be easy for the marine to kill someone. Let alone have people (americans at that) complain and call him a killer of an innocent person or try and make it sound like its just a cover-up story for something bigger. this right-wing, left-wing political crud is worthless..Im glad you feel it necessary to share your opinion with the world but frankly your opinions suck..

It was more cost effective. Around 5.000 $ all included. You spent 900.000$ just for ammunitions (3 hellfires missiles) only to kill 1 suspected low level militant in Pakistan. If you add the cost of fuel, military personnel, you are a looser.
US economy is shrinking, especially average people are feeling the pain with less buying power. Inoccupancy is higher than the official 9,5% as many do not register. It is around 17%.

Look at the situation the Afhani people were in people were in before US infiltration. Sure, things aren't exactly in tip-top shape still, but the conditions people are living in now have definitely improved since we've arrived. We have yet to accomplish our main objective, but we have indeed aided the Afghani people with our presence. If we left, things would simply go back to thee way the were. The Talbien controlling Afghanistan and everything and everyone in it.

As a wife of a retired military man. I am very proud of this marine. He may have saved more people that day. Once he shot this marine who knows what he would have done. This family of the marine will hopefully get to see him again. It was do or die for him. He made the right choice!!!

According to the R.O.E. (rules of engagement) the marine did not have to report the incident to his chain of command, just shoot the guy because the guy was pointing a loaded gun at the marine and/or the Iraqi police officer was threatening the marine. The marine told his chain of command about the incident for two reasons: protect the force (US Marine,soldiers, sailors) against malicious attacks if the Iraqi policeman was planning anything and second the marine knew the Iraqi policeman needed to be relieved of his duty station and questioned of his intent. The marine had "just cause" to defend the force and shot the Iraqi officer. I think he might get a merit for his actions. Who knows what would have happened if the marine had not acted. SEMPER FI

@one small voice and other idiots... It someone waived and pointed a gun at a police officer in the US, the officer would shoot. More people are murdered daily in the US than the military has killed in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Too many people cry for the world but have never once left their little porch to see what is going on. Life is cheap and disposable just about everywhere on the planet. Try living in SE Asia for a while then cry me a story about all the poor people... Amazing how stupid and ignorant of reality most people keep themselves then spout off as experts and "the better person".

Well done Marine. Kill or be killed. It the Marine didn't act in self-defense, the Afghan "police officer" err coward, would have shot him in the back. Mr. President, GET US THE EFF OUT OF THERE NOW!!!!

Why is this being blown way out of proportion? A Marine did his F-ing job.so all u haters out there would just stand there and let an obviously unstable man piont a gun at u. if this was a civilian vs civilian scenario in america, the only thing sayed would be "thats what u get". so stop being terrorist sympathizers. kudos to that marine for doing the right thing. his family should be proud. unless uv been in that situation.......shut up

wooahh man! sick quote! "You can live on your knees, I'd rather die on my feet." Dude I'm gonna quote you next time i hear a moron say we should completely let the terrorists have their way. By the way, i sent another long message aimed at you, hope you get it and reply to it.

stop hatin, adam had a realy good point. left or right wing has nothing to do with it. If someone pointed a gun at you, and refused to listen to you when you told them drop it, wouldnt you shoot back? you can live on your knees, id rather die on my feet.

so i just wanna get it right. if we are attacked its ok, but if we do the attacking were wrong. what if that marine lowerd his weapon, got shot and died. that would be the right thing to do i guess, right? Come on people,we wouldnt hear about it except for a few seconds on the evening news. I bet my paycheck if some Jamal was waving his gat in your face you wouldnt hesitat to drop him. but because were on different soil its wrong? if you pointed a gun at a cop in new jersey what would happen? we all know the outcome and we would all applaud the cop. but because MTV tells us that war is so bad, we gotta oppose every action taken by military personnell and get super fat off some $6 latte while driving our 1 mile to the gallon SUV's just so we seem more like snookie. when are we gonna start thinking for ourselves instead of the liberal media doing it for us? and what do you think would have happend or what america would be like today if simply ignored the 9-11 attacks or not gone into iraq. I cant think of any (and trust me I'm still looking) of ANY situation where us americans are beheading others for worshiping GOD a lil differently. one more thing, all of those liberal cry babies who say "everyone has a right to education, healthcare, and other human rights" but oppose us giving it to other countries is downright hippocrates. is America the only country allowed civil liberties. you think if we say " please stop attacking us and we will do the same" will simply stop the taliban? even if our country surrenderd to these cowards, they still will keep killin us! I know this for a fact. these insurgents and taliban have only one agenda, and that is to kill ALL non muslims. I know this by speaking to these people,, just after holding my bestfriend in my arms till he died because of these lunatics! NOBODY HAS ANY RIGHT TO HAVE AN OPINION ABOUT THIS WAR UNLESS THEY SERVED A TOUR THEMSELVES. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE A RIGHT TO HAVE AN OPINION ARE THOSE WEARING THE UNIFORM! if you dont know how ti fix a car, than dont tell a mechanic what to do.

at the end of the he could lieing or telling the truth thats y we have God who will judge. on the day of judgement when all men and women will be brought back to life to be questioned on how they spent there time in this world.... till then may God bless us all and may God have mercy on our souls.

I do believe that we have a right to be there onesmallvoice we are not conquering them we were attacked by binladen and he runs the taliban I agree afgan belongs to its people and thats what we are preserving we are not fighting the country we are fighting the warlord Osama Binladen and the taliban they are the conquerers and the ones who need to go down

Yes-there has been the loss of innocent lives, caused by Americans on the soil of Afghanistan and Iraq. This was and is not the intention of the US government. No one here is mentioning the innocent women that are killed everyday by fanatics from these same countries or the hundreds of thousands of innocent Sikhs and Hindu's that were slaughtered by Afghans and Persians after the Moguls took over India. The Afghans are not innocent of murder AND what about the fact that they export a majority of the worlds Heroin -the cause of untold suffering. Maybe its time the US destroy their crops and the world holds Afghanistan accountable for the mess that they contribute to the world.

How could some of you people get on here and say the marine was in the wrong?? Are you fricking kidding me? I bet civilians dont hear about the afghan police shooting service men or women in the back all the time. From the time we are about to deploy you hear all the time, dont trust the afghan. AND TO Michael O'Rourke ID KICK YOUR ASS MYSELF IF I SAW YOU. Better for an american family to lose someone opposed to an afghan family? You have no idea the lives we live. So until you have a better understanding shut your mouth. 0311 SEMPER FI DO OR DIE

That comes out as full BS. The dude lost his composure and executed the Police after an argument....that is more likely. The cover up story is soo poorly constructed. Reminds me of that cop in Seattle who killed the Indian, the tape from his cruiser forced the department to retract their original statement that the Indian "advanced" towards the officer.

well done marine. dangerous lunatics with guns need to be stopped, preferably by using the right procedure. if you've got anger management or are a loony, stay away from guns and this hero wont need to stop you hurting any innocent people!
no more lads coming home in body bags for the sake of freedom in that god-forsaken region

ps dan in lafayette,IN I like your speeches about christians and muslims muslims attacked christians first may the rivelry continue may there suffering as well and onesmallvoice you want to debate this post some more messeges I will check them lets see what you got to say

muslims did not attack christians? are you trying to tell a lie or are you that ignorant? rember what happend in baghdad a couple of months ago? a bunch of muslims invaded a christian church and killed like over a hundred people. but it must be the christians fault for not believing in a religon that is being forced upon them.

greg – you are retarded. What else can I espect from a military ? I was responding to the wrong statement thr Muslims attacked christians first. They attacked AFTER, as 9/11 was a reaction to Clinton bombing in Iraq and Sudan. The attack you mentioned in Egypt was even later, so does not fit at all with our argument.

once again you are wrong. I am referring to the attack in Baghdad, Iraq. It happend very recently. Iraq is a country located south of turkey and north of Kuwait. Not Egypt, which is on a different continent you idiot. but you are semi accurate about the retaliation with the clinton era bombings. But do you have any idea why clinton orderd those bombings or are you just going by what you saw in a michael moore movie. I realy am tryin to understand your point of view but am finding it very hard. Its probably cause of your lack of inteligence. seriously, how old are you like 14? you need to do some fact checking before you go running your mouth. i feel like iam getting dumber talking to an incompetint moron such as yourself.

Salerno if you recall Clinton attacked with missiles in Afghanistan and Sudan in response to the bombings of the Embassies in Africa! You are incorrect when you say the Christians attacked the Muslims first when in fact the extremist Muslims attacked U.S. embassies first and the U.S. military responded not any Christian group you idiot!

Greg – It is not important WHERE the attack was done. My point is that the attack was mrecent and was not the cause of the US war as you said. It was a CONSEQUENCE. So as always YOIU WERE WRONG and I was RIGHT. Do you know why? simple ! becouse you are an execution order unable of independent thinking, wjile I am a free man. I laugh all the time to your stupidity. Thank you becouse yo are my entertainment !

Dan – I told Clinton bombed Iraq, not Afghanistan. Additionally I never told Christians attacked muslims. That was a statement made by another poster and I was replying to him telling it was untrue that muslims attacked christians first. You should read better before posting, otherwise you make the confusion bigger than the confusion phisiologically present in your mind.

Dan – you think wrong, as Clinton bombed Iraq in 1998 (desert fox). This predated Cole attack and 9/11, so the reaction was on the same level. As youou killed civilinas including womwn and children, so your civilians were killed too. It was a reaction on the same level.

Thank you soon to be marine, but let us not pray for their suffering let us pray that they can become a more tolerate people that shows love and mercy for all people including sinners. My prayer for you is that you do your job to the best of your abilities and you return home safely to your loved ones! May God be with you!

onesmall voice whats wrong with you sapporting the other side that cop got himself killed how dare you verbally abuse this marine for defending himself what if that cop was a insurgen this marine not only should he be bragged about he should be honerd with a medal and a perade just like every other soldier and to save on gas jerks like you should pull his float he is fighting for our freedom and if you dont like it get out of our country jerks like you are the last thing america needs I mean this is not just a squirt gun fight were when the sun gose down its all over this is war it gose on as long as we need it to we were attacked remember 9-11 or are self absorbed fallow the crowd losers like you to stupid to remember and so what if we are the most hated country in the world we have saved just about everyone in the worlds sorry ass so if it were not for us europe would be speeking german comunisum would own everyone and south korea would not exist so so what if the world hates us they can suck it because they all owe us we bleed for them and died for them and yes the marines do have a job to kill but there soldiers thats what they do thats like saying a doctors only job is to help people plus the marines save people to and you know what the muslums did to us destroyed our towers in a unprevoked assult scaring this nation for the rest its history our children will learn about this we are making history the question is how will they learn about that america fought for ten years and turned its tail and ran or will it be that america pressed on against the worlds critacisum finnished the job kicked some terrorist ass and took down a very evil group of people bringing freedom to afganistan. that marine did a good thing you dont like it boo hoo get out of our country and thake the others like you with you goodbye and good ridnce

Come on SOONTOBEMARINE,wise up will you? Do you honestly believe all that right-wing propaganda the press feeds us? After all, we have no right to be over there! Afghanistan belongs to the Afghans and nobody else!!!

Just ignore the jerk above,Onesmallvoice. He has his heart set on killing and nothing posted by neither you or I will change his mind. Unfortunately some people are nihilistic and that's all there is to it!

WE ARE THERE TO BRING JUSTICE TO 3000 AMERICANS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES ON 9/11!!! AND PHONY BOY MOST PEOPLE WHO READ THESE BLOGS CAN TELL THAT YOU ARE A LIAR USING OTHER PEOPLES NAMES. I DON'T SEE WHERE YOU GET JOY FROM IT!

"What if" arguments are so stupid. What if G. Bush the second focused more on Afghanistan than going into Iraq, what if the CIA never helped to defeat the Russians. What if your parents never met. You are so typical. I agree, this guy did what he did if that is the truth. One must question the reporting on this story. That officer should have just shot himself. Would you put yourself in a situation of sure death over an argument. By the way, a handful of people control the media. Think about that. I agree with you in defending yourself, but it just seems so insane to do what that guy did. Must have been a crazy argument to get your self killed over.

I really don't know what gets into the heads of some chuckle heads who never worn our uniform? COME HOME ALIVE!!! it's not about killing!, it's about coming home alive as well as your comrades. If you have not served then shut up or put up!! I lost too many friends being the good guys around the world to defend such stupid pie in the sky and higher academia who never served and have the right to question a soldier who has every right to defend himself and comrades!! welcome to the real world. How about you going and overseas and asking the same question of the Taliban? see if they want to be your friend?

Peter – I avoided the draft simulating a disease, so I am similar to a desertor. Anyway it is not my fault if you or your military friends are unable to do another safer job. Of course if you choose to go to make war to another country, you should expect some reaction, but you are not defending me. I was a little bit embarassed when so many women choose to enlist, while I was remaining safe, but I am contrarian to offensive wars and avoided the draft without their help. So I have not to thank anyone.

HEY! There's only room for one Prophet here, now stick to the important topics like fishing, I don't care what your opinion is of Yankee shooting skills, I KNOW I can out shoot you and I can sure as heck out fish you too.

WOW.. it amazes me that the police officer hand the gun pointed at the soldier and he still managed to take out his gun n kill the officer..and we believe this..let me help you guys here a little bit.. these soldiers just think they can go arround a country n rule it as they want.. im pretty sure they were doing or saying something against the officers own ppl which made the officer upset.. One day usa will realize that how it feels to have another country invade your soil.

@ Balawal- Invade US Soil? Not Likely! Americans may disagree all the time but they will band together and cooperate in time of need (unlike Afghanistan and Iraq), besides American's enjoy many freedoms, not just the freedom of speech, religion and peaceful assembly but the right to bear arms and most importantly the right to fish (I think it's like the 6th amendment or something).
I personally carry a 6wt, 10' fly rod with me at all times and if that isn't enough I also carry a 9wt, 11 for when times get really tough, no terrorist or foreign army in their right minds would want to cross me and they are not much different than trout. Fish on!
-The Prophet has spoken.

Yes, but why do you ask? Do you think I'm a wuss or something? I will stand up and fight for what I believe in even though I'm over 50 years old! Also I've got two sons and two grandsons that will be by my side along with the almighty!

gil – just tell me again... who supported the taliban against the Russian invaders in the 80ies? ... guess it was the US of A. So YOU created those people and yes.. killing those responsible is justified... but invading another country and being responsible killing so many innocent people... just wrong... The Israelis did it right after Munich... go after the responsible terrorists... what you do in Afghanistan and Iraq is producing MORE terrorists... you can not kill all.. just go home, protect your homeland....

Afghan men have a lot of machismo and are very proud and stubborn. This poor police officer probably had no clue that his actions (waving a gun at a marine) would be interpreted as an imminent lethal thread rather than just posturing. He probably wasn't a terrorist, just someone who lacked training and discipline. We will probably never know if the marine had the opportunity to diffuse the situation rather than kill the Afghan cop.

Elg ,Christianity is not forced on people, it is their choice to believe or not. Islam forces their people to adhere to their faith by making laws that condemn people to death if they convert, And if you don't like it don't read it, but one day you'll wish you had!

The truth is, none of us really know what happened there, and when it comes to war death is inevitable. All we can do is hope that the journalists relay the best messages possible. Some of the journalists lives are on the line just so the public knows the truth of what's going on. Also, with both governments trying to put up facades, instead of laying it down like it is, we the people are always the ones who get hurt in the end.

This story is bs I work with these soldiers. They are racist, rude people with no sense of respect. When they go to these countries they commit crimes and white ppl at CNN like to run stories like this to cover it up

Well done Marine! You gave him a chance to end it without violence. He decided to keep his weapon. And based on the loses we have incurred due to people in uniform killing our people, I feel that you were justified. Not because he was Muslim, but that he was threatening you safety.

Be in the Marine Corps I agree 100 percent with what this Marine did. You must watch out for yourself and get yoruself home safe and do what you have to to surive the war. If someone raises a gun at you there is no choice but to take them out. It only takes one second for him to pull the trigger and for the Marine to get killed. You have to do what you have to do to come home. Good job Marine

onesmall – you are right it is mainly a problem of ignorance. USA is one of the few country where the average people is even worst than their politicians. They have education problems and a propaganda sistem washing their brains on a regular basis.
They believe everyyhing their military tells, but we don't know what exactly happened. Afghan people do not trust americans becouse they killed so many innocent civilians including women and children. How can US pretend to be wellcome in their country ?

onesmallvoice and salerno , first if we were to leave there would be many more deaths of young men, women and children than ever before and salerno I will stop praying for you because you are a person condemned by God for your devilish lies!

Onesmallvoice you have no idea whats going on its not like we are facing an army its hard to tell a terrorist from a civilian but the marine took the steps to defend himself and honestly we dont kill woman and children the truth they kill themselves I've been there and i Agree with the Marine he warned the Police officer to put the gun down and there is always a translator around so he was telling the officer He gave the warning and when he didnt listen he put his own life a risk! i dont feel bad at all. and if the police officer had a family it was his poor choice that brought that on his family we can only take action for ourselves and even if its a miss understanding if i was the police officer i would not wave a gun its stupid idea or even worse point it at a military force its never a smart move

Yes-there has been the loss of innocent lives, caused by Americans on the soil of Afghanistan and Iraq. This was and is not the intention of the US government. No one here is mentioning the innocent women that are killed everyday by fanatics from these same countries or the hundreds of thousands of innocent Sikhs and Hindu's that were slaughtered by Afghans and Persians after the Moguls took over India. The Afghans are not innocent of murder AND what about the fact that they export a majority of the worlds Heroin -the cause of untold suffering. Maybe its time the US destroy their crops and the world holds Afghanistan accountable for the mess that they contribute to the world.

@ Salerno: Please don't lump all Americans into one group, it's no better than what many of us do to others. We do not all blindly follow and believe the millitary in everything they say and do. Every group of people (country) has issues, please do not assume every one of us beleives in the war, or thinks what happened is justified. You are correct; we do not know what happened there, so why is your assumption put above anyone else's? Generalizations only add to a fire that is already too big.

Guest I agree with you. I know 63% of americans are contrarian to the war in Afghanistan, and I stay with this majority.
I stated we don't know what happened and if the marine told the truth, but about the civilian casualties, the US military was proven hiding the truth by Wikileaks, Al-Jazeera images, Iraqi body count organization, and "Emergency" aid workers, and the many US soldiers who heroically deserted.

Has nothing to do with Muslims, it has to do with the Taliban harboring a group that flew a couple of planes into some buildings killing over 2000 Americans. Why on earth would you simplify the matter to some unintelligent argument regarding simple cultural differences.

You bring God into play and you are wondering why Muslims use God to justify their actions?

To the Marine... you did what you had to do... if the report is true (it's easy to say that when the other guy is dead), but you fight in Afghanistan for a lost cause... Does the US really think they can win over there? To win what? Against who? Are you sure of your "friends" over there? Your money spent will not be used to buy guns which will be pointed against you? Make your homeland safe, protect Americans... fine.. but stop going into other countries not knowing the consequences...

This is terrible. Hope these afghan officers can have a better way of communication .. better understanding with other members in the battle field. why he raised his gun first rather than discussion. Oh God!!Please bring ALL of us out from this terrible situation!! May God comfort the officers family !!! Amen.

good job marine, first protect your self and then deal with the rest after, it is always done this way especially when one raises a gun carelessly , that is what our police do , they do have to protect them selfs it is part of the job, so well done marine keep up the good work, and may god comfort the afghan officers family

I dont care if he is a terrorist or not, he pointed a weapon at a Marine, the Marine told him to put it down, followed the escalation of force, then shot the assailant. Text book. There is not problem here. hey what would you do if someone pointed a gun at you? the Marine actually told the ANA to drop the weapon and he didnt! i bet you wouldnt even say a word!

It's a shame it ended in death, but if he was raising his weapon in such a way then he was a threat to everyone around him. I'm glad no one else was harmed. I hope the officer's family will be alright...

Actually Britt,this stupid war has nothing to do with our rights or freedoms any more than it has to do with national security. Must you believe everything the right-wing media people say? Think for yourself!!!

Quite wrong,Guest. Quite the contrary,the news media people seem to applaud what we're doing overseas no matter how heinous! We have no right to be in Afghanistan,but the right-wing media never says that!

WE have every right to be in Afghanistan! Lets say there was a murderer in your home and the police asked you to give him up and you did not. When the police came in and arrested the murderer they would also arrest you for harboring a fugitive. So our forces are upholding the law in trying to capture or kill the Taliban and al Qaeda which murdered 3000 Americans but maybe you don't give a damn!

I totally agree with you,Onesmallvoice. We have absolutely no right to be in Afghanistan no matter what the right-wing people in the news media say. If some of the people who blog in here start to think for themselves,they'd probably agree too. Enough of this brainwashing already!!!

Larrykegal(US Army) Do you think that the Taliban should still be in power and allow al Qaeda to train and plan attacks against the western world in Afghanistan? And we should have done nothing to those harboring al Qaeda which attacked the US on 9/11? We should let the Islamic extremists do anything they want?

Did everyone foget 911. They attacked us. We went in. They stopped, though not for lack of trying. So logically we should leave? They will be attacking us again if we leave. We have every right to be there. More right than the taliban. We are protecting the afghan people from the taliban BTW. 10% of them want the taliban to win.

Because Americans are supposed to be the peace keepers, and after Blackwater, Abu Ghraib and a few other instances of "Marines Gone Wild", American soldiers are now under a microscope.
I won't congratulate this soldier for doing his job, but he is commendable for trying everything he could to de-escalate the situation before drawing his weapon.

@Michael O'Rourke: This wasn't a randome shooting, the man had a weapon raised to the Marine, was asked (ordered, whatever, don't point weapons at people and you won't get shouted at) to put the weapon down, did not comply and action was taken. It's always sad and awful when someone dies. But lets not pretend these people are "Go Team America" here. While I'm sure some are, not all are; I'd venture to say most are not. When someone raises a weapon to another person (certainly in the situation described where the man found the Marine a second time to threaten him again) it becomes self defense...

O'Rourke
The Marine walked away and reported it to his commander. The police office sought him out for a confrontation. Waving and pointing his gun at the Marine. What would you do???
This Marine was level headed and that barely saved his life. What would you prefer? That the story end with the Marine being killed and the police office being shot to death by other Marines in response???

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